Staff shortages may have held things up, but the all-suite Raffles hotel looks set to finally soft-open to the public on 16 August, with a gala opening toward the end of the year.
The 450-suite property joins 18 other hotels around the world operated under the 136-year-old Raffles brand and is the seventh hotel at the Galaxy resort, alongside the Ritz-Carlton, Marriott, Banyan Tree, Okura, and others.
The vivid golden edifice of Raffles, towering over the Galaxy resort, has been a feature of the Cotai skyline for some time. Comprising two towers linked on every floor by glass-enclosed walkways, the hotel is billed as a blend of “Macao’s rich East-Meets-West heritage and modern-day vibrancy.”
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Not all of the property is opening at once. Guests will have to wait until later in 2023 for the Japanese restaurant helmed by Masaaki Miyakawa (one of only five Michelin three-star chefs in Japan) and for a local version of the famous Long Bar at Raffles in Singapore.
For now though, there will be a Mediterranean-inspired pool terrace and a garden overlooking Galaxy’s main resort deck.
Afternoon tea and all-day dining will take place in a swish lobby lounge, and the hotel will also feature a champagne and oyster bar. In-house guests will have access to the Belvedere restaurant on the 6th floor, serving international delicacies in a glass pool house.
